Sepsis campaign launched in Scotland after death of GP and her baby

A national campaign has been launched in Scotland to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of sepsis.

Posters will be displayed in GP surgeries, pharmacies and hospitals warning that someone dies of the condition every four hours.

FEAT – a charity set up to fight sepsis after the death of an Edinburgh GP and her baby – has worked with the Scottish Government to develop the campaign which lists five key symptoms for people to be aware of.

Craig Stobo who set up FEAT to fund research into sepsis after his wife Dr Elizabeth Agnew and their second child Isla died in 2012 said the campaign was a ‘milestone’.

‘We have pressed for the need to raise awareness of this killer condition and are confident that this Scotland-wide campaign will be a game changer in increasing the public’s understanding of the symptoms of sepsis and the quick action needed to save lives.

‘We are proud to provide additional funding for this vital campaign and while we can’t bring back those lost to the condition, we dedicate this campaign to them and pledge to continue working towards the eradication of sepsis.’

Social media and radio messages will tell the public to look out for very high or low temperature, uncontrolled shivering, confusion, cold or blotchy hands and feet and not passing as much urine as normal.

GP practices will be provided with materials to also raise awareness among healthcare teams.

Health secretary Shona Robison said: ‘While mortality rates from sepsis have fallen by 21% since 2012, there is still more to be done and I am confident this campaign will play its part in equipping the public with a better understanding of the signs and symptoms.’

Calum McGregor, NHS Lanarkshire consultant acute physician, said: ‘Recent data suggests that for every hour’s delay in antibiotics, the chances of dying from sepsis increase so it is vital we get people the treatment they need as quickly as possible.’

Readers' comments (3)

So will posters stating antibiotics are useless hang next to posters stating antibiotics need to be started asap? And both will presumably list similar symptoms that should be ignored or acted on immediately, depending upon whichever poster you are looking at. Sums up the GP dilemma perfectly , damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

Well said David Banner. Shows the knee jerk, back covering reaction. They believe no one will now die from any condition due to all the promotions and raising awareness of all the conditions from Kumar and Clarke. We will soon have this textbook plastered all over the walls-laminated and without pins of course to meet CQC standards.